Tension responsive foldable marine anchor



Aug.` 19, 1958 R. GJ KNITTER TENSION-RESPONSIVE FoLDABLE MARINE ANCHORFiled Sept. 7. 1956 IN V EN TOR.

United States Parental/O TENSION RESPONSIVE FOLDABLE MARINE ANCHORRaymond G. Knitter, Milwaukee, Wis. Application September 7, 1956,Serial No. 608,517 3 Claims. (Cl. 114-208) lThis invention relates to animproved foldable boat anchor having resiliently spread anchor armswhich are arranged to fold whenever pull is exerted on the anchor linewhich is greater than a predetermined limit while an anchor arm issnagged in the bottom of a body of water, so as to eliminate likelihoodof breaking the anchor and/or the anchor line, or of having to cut theanchor line to move an anchored boat.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a practical andelhcient anchor of this kind whose anchor arms are manually foldable,when desired, from a spread condition, so as to reduce the bulk of theanchor for storage and safer transportation, and which is composed of asmall number of simple parts which are easily assembled.

Another object of the invention is to provide an anchor of the characterindicated, which can be made in attractive, rugged, and serviceableforms at relatively low cost, is easily used and maintained, and ishighly acceptable for the purpose intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomeapparent reside in the details of construction and operation as morefully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals referto like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a boat anchor of the invention,portions being broken away and in sec tion, showing the anchor armsembedded in the bottom of a body of water;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l, showing the 'anchor arms folded;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the anchor;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the anchor arm support; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view, portions being insection, showing another form of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, there is shown a body of water Whaving a bottom B, in which is a rock R, under which is snagged ananchor arm of an anchor of the present invention, indicated generally at10.

The novel anchor comprises an elongated shank 12 terminating at itsupper end in an eye 14 securable to an anchor line 16. The shank 12 hasa threaded lower end portion 18, on whose upper end is an abutment nutand on whose lower end is an adjustable stop nut 22. Circumposed on thethreaded portion 18 of the shank 12 in engagement with the lower sido ofthe abutment nut 20 is a nut 24 which is engaged with the smaller upperend of a rigid solid cone 26 which facilitates withdrawal of the anchorthrough debris, such as seaweed, when the anchor arms are folded,l asshown in Figure 2. The larger lower end 27 of the cone 26 has engagedtherewith a Washer 30 circumposed on the shank 12. Engaged with thelower side of the washer 30 and circumposed on the shank 12 is anannular 4anchor arms 46,

resilient compressible element, in the form of a rubber block,constituting compression spring means which must be compressedto enablethe anchor arms of the anchor 10 to fold as shown in Figure 2.Circumposed on the shank 12 in engagement with and conforming in size tothe lower side of the resilient block 32 is a washer or pressure disc34.

Circumposed on the shank 12 and engaged with the underside of thepressure disc 34, is an anchor amr support 36, which is cross-shaped andcomprises a hub 40 passing the shank 12, and pairs of ears 38.

Extending through holes 42 in the ears 38 are pivot pins 44 whichtraverse inner end portions 48 of flat which terminate in rounded camends 49 for engaging the pressure disc 34 in the folded position of theanchor arms, and displacing the disc 34 upwardly relative to the support36, as shown in Figure 2. The anchor arms 46 include twistedintermediate portions 50 and outer end portions 52 which are at rightangles to the inner end portions 48 and constitute linkes having widerdiscs 54 secured to their outer or upper sides. The support 36 issecured in place on the shank 12 by the nut 20, with the resilient block32 under the desired tension or compression.

In the event that one or more of the ukes 52 become snagged under a rockR, while the anchor arms are spread, pull applied through the anchorline 16 to the shank 12, greater than a predetermined amount, permitsthe anchor arms to pivot toward the folded position shown in Figure 2.In so pivoting the anchor arms cam the pressure disc 34 upw-ardlyagainst the resistance of the block 32 and compresses the block, so thatthe anchor arms go into fully folded positions and can be withdrawn fromunder such as the rock R, so that the anchor 10 is freed. The anchorarms are arrested in the fully folded position by the engagement of thepoints 56 on the ends of the curved ends 49, in an over-center relationto the pivot pins 44. When the anchor is to be used in spread condition,the arms are forcibly unfolded.

The form of the invention shown in Figure 5 is the same in structure asthat of Figures l to 4, except that a coil spring 32a is circumposedabout the shankr 12 between the abutment nut washer 24 and `the pressuredisc 34, in place of and functioning in the same manner as the resilientblock 32 of Figures l to 4.

Although Figure 2 shows all of the anchor arms folded, only those whichare snagged beneath an obstacle will be folded, except when the anchorarms are manually folded vfor storage purposes, for example.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Since numerous modifications and changes will readilyoccur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit theinvention to the exact construction and operation shown and described,and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may beresorted to, as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A boat anchor comprising al1-elongated shank having a threaded lowerend portion including an upper end and a lower end, an abutment at saidupper end, an annular compressible element circumposed on said lthreadedportion beneath said abutment, a pressure disc on said threaded portionbeneath said compressible element, an anchor arm support slidablycircumposed on the shank beneath said pressure disc, a nut threaded onthe lower end of said threaded portion beneath and engaging saidsupport, said support having radial ears, and anchor arms having innerend portions pivoted on said ears, said inner end portions of the anchorarms terminating in cam ends engagea-ble with the pressure disc abovesaid References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES' PATENTSsupport in folded positions of the anchor arms, said inner end portionsof the anchor, arms being engaged with said pressure disc in the spreadpositions of the anchor arms. 877,761 Cummings Ian. 28, 1908 2. A boatanchor according to claim 1, wherein said 5 compressible elementcomprises an annular rubber block. FOREIGN PATENTS 3. A boat anchoraccording to claim 1, wherein said 79,141 Sweden Sept. 9, 1931 88,704Sweden Mar. 2, 1937 compressible element comprises a coil spring.

